³³ Then all the Midianites,^[a] Amalekites,^[b] and the people of the east gathered together and crossed the Jordan; and they camped in the valley of Jezreel. ³⁴ So the Spirit of Yahweh took possession of^[c] Gideon, and he blew on the trumpet, and the Abiezrites^[d] were called to follow him. ³⁵ He sent messengers throughout all Manasseh, and they were also called to follow him; and he sent messengers throughout Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, and they went up to meet them.

Gideon Tests Yahweh With the Fleece

³⁶ Then Gideon said to God, “In order to see that you will deliver Israel by my hand, just as you have said, ³⁷ I will place a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece only, and all of the ground is dry, I will know that you will deliver Israel by my hand, just as you have said.” ³⁸ And it was so. He arose early the next day and squeezed the fleece, and he wrung out dew from the fleece, a full drinking bowl of water. ³⁹ And Gideon said to God, “Do not let your anger burn^[e] against me; let me speak once more. Please let me test once more with the fleece; let the fleece be dry, and let there be dew on the ground.” ⁴⁰ And God did so that night; only the fleece was dry, and dew was on all the ground.